The recently agreed and comprehensive changes to the Champions League from the 2024/25 season and the plans for a so-called Super League – in recent days there has been a heated debate in European football. While the European elite league is on the verge of collapse, the reform of the Champions League has been agreed by UEFA.
On Thursday evening, Fernando Carro, chairman of the board at Bayer 04, talks at length about these issues. The 56-year-old can also call on his experience as a member of the UEFA Club Competitions Committee. Carro is being interviewed on RTL Nitro from 20.15 CEST. The free TV channel is broadcasting the Europa League semi-final between Manchester United and AS Roma (kick-off: 21.00 CEST) and the interview with the Bayer 04 CEO will be shown in the build-up to the game.
Head coach Hannes Wolf is also a representative of the Black and Reds on TV on Friday night, 30 April. The 40-year-old is a guest of host Alexander Bommes on the Sportschau Club on ARD. The live broadcast begins immediately following the DFB Cup semi-final between Werder Bremen and RB Leipzig (kick-off: 20.30 CEST).
Things could hardly be any better for midfield dynamo Exequiel Palacios at the moment. Since Bayer 04 head coach Hannes Wolf took over the helm ahead of matchday 27, the Argentinian has been an established part of the Black and Red midfield. The 22-year-old has been in the starting eleven in the last five games and he went the full distance in four of those matches.
Why 'Pala' feels such great confidence from the head coach was explained recently in an interview with selected members of the press: "Hannes and I had a very good conversation. He said I should show why I am an established member of the Argentina team. Fortunately that worked out."
After his lumbar vertebral fracture, which he suffered in the middle of November with Argentina in a World Cup qualifier, Palacios has recently grown into the role of enforcer in front of the defence. "The tactical system suits me. The job of closing down space is something I like. I feel very happy with it," said our number 25.
Like Palacios, Kerem Demirbay has also played in every game to date under Hannes Wolf. The 27 year-old was a starter in three of the five games. Recently he scored the crucial goal to make it 3-1 in the home game against Eintracht Frankfurt. His deflected shot from 25 yards out was probably the most unlikely goal on Bundesliga matchday 31 – with a goal probability of just three per cent.
Dimitar Berbatov originally wanted to take up a new post in his home country in June. The plan of the former Werkself player (2001 to 2006): To win the new election for the president of the Bulgarian Football Association. However, 'Berbo's' candidacy has received a setback.
Borislav Mihajlov, who resigned two years ago due to racist incidents, recently announced his return to his post. He also declared that elections will be held in 2022. So Berbatov will probably have to be patient for a few months before he can launch his election campaign...
Domagoj Vida celebrated his 32nd birthday on Thursday in Bulgaria's neighbouring country. The central defender played for the Werkself in 2010/11 and today he plays for Besiktas in the Turkish capital – and as a regular first choice with the club he is on the way to winning the league title. Bayer 04 wish him continuing success in the league and many happy returns.
Kicking off the new season with a fresh look: Bayer 04, in collaboration with sportswear manufacturer New Balance, has unveiled the official kit for Leverkusen’s e-Sports players for the coming season. The jersey is now available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt.
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Paulo Sergio and Bayer 04 have enjoyed close ties since the Werkself training camp in his native Brazil last summer. The club legend is in charge of the Bayer 04 Soccer Academy, which opened in the summer of 2025, and he has also been at this year’s training camp in the Weimarer Land. As well as interacting with the many fans who travelled to the camp, the 1994 World Cup winner used the time to plan the next steps for the Academy together with club officials. In an interview with bayer04.de, Sergio spoke about the project’s future development, the upcoming visit by young Academy players to Leverkusen, and plans for the coming months in Germany and Brazil.
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A round-up of the Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land, all in one place: in our daily blog you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day four (Wednesday 5 August) is all about training. The day begins with a gruelling open training session – new signing Miguel Gutiérrez also takes part. A second session follows in the afternoon, this time behind closed doors.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Spanish left-back Miguel Gutiérrez from Napoli. The 25-year-old has signed a contract with the club to 30 June 2031. Gutiérrez came through the youth ranks at Real Madrid; he moved to Italy a year ago from Girona, and he played a key role for Napoli with 36 appearances. The big Italian club finished last season as runners-up in Serie A.
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